Facial Routine with Healthful Choices

The Face:

‘What lays manifest in the physical, is a mirror of the internal’ ~ Jan P. López.

The skin on one’s face is the most sensitive part of the body, we wash often, moisturize and expose to the sun daily. In order to maintain healthy skin, it is imperative to hydrate the body effectively by consuming as much fruits and vegetables daily along with drinking sufficient amounts of pure water. Diet plays a major role in the appearance and health of one’s skin.

In conjunction with the above, it is also important to ensure t whatever goes on the skin is safe and nourishing. It is 100 %true that ’if you would not eat it, perhaps it should not be on the skin. '

The skin is porous and the largest organ of the body and thus easily transports whatever it comes into contact with to the bloodstream in a matter of just seconds.

So, let us look at some of the very natural ingredients/items which can benefit the skin and its natural health, as well as a brief overview of how to use them.

Masks:

Masks are good for two main reasons:

1. To remove impurities/cleansing at a deeper level. and

2. To aid in skin elasticity by cell nourishment/rejuvenation.

Some basic yet effective ingredients are as listed:

Avocado( Use ripe fruit; Moisturizing agent) ~ Simply smear all over clean face and neck, the ' flesh of half of a medium to large avocado, and leave for 10-15 mins, then rinse off with warm water. This is a moisturizing mask, the natural; essential oils help to rejuvenate the skin through the pores.

Papayas (Use ripe fruit; Cleanses and tones): As with the avocado, apply and rinse off after full pore penetration. This cleanses yet tones more than the avocado.

Spirulina+ water. This is a purifying mask and aids significantly with heavy metal removal. 1teaspoon of spirulina to 1tablespoon of Distilled water should be sufficient. The consistency should be relatively thick and dark green.

Noni Fruit (cleansing): Lather on the ripe fruit on the face and neck, leave on for 15 mim, rinse with warm water. This fruit has a very ' soapy' reaction on the skin and can easily be used as a daily cleanser.

1 part food grade Bentonite Clay to 1 part Activated Charcoal to 3 parts water should create a thick enough mixture to cover your face and neck until fully dry and hardened, remove with warm water and a wash cloth.

Cleansing

Lime or lemon:

There are many benefits to using these citrus fruits on the skin, they clarify as well as exfoliate dead cells from the skin. There are two ways to apply lime and/or lemons to the skin for cleansing-

1. Use one half of a chopped lemon or lime (ripe), leave on for 2-5 mins and rinse with luke warm water. Ensure to refrigerate the other half - not the juice thereof.

Method 2: squeeze 1 tablespoon of lime or lemon juice in 6oz of distilled water, saturate the clean face with the combined liquids and have sit for 5-10 minutes( whichever is most comfortable). Rinse with lukewarm water.

Some persons find these too acidic and irritating, and may therefore wish to opt for a milder alternative.

Sea salt

Place 2 Tablespoons of sea salt (coarse) in 6oz of water. You do not want all the granules to dissolve. Pour sufficient amount unto a washcloth and rub on face and neck. Have sit for 10-15 mins. Then rinse with warm water. A batch of this can be made and refrigerated for a week or two.

Moisturizers:

Moringa Oil which has very antibacterial properties.

Coconut oil- Antibacterial and provides UVA+B properties.

Argan Oil – Aids in skin cell reparation.

Toners:

Raw *ACV. Dilute 1:1 Ratio and apply at nights.

A few ' safe ' OTC's which are useful as liquid cleansers or after deep cleansing toners include but are not limited to:

1. Witch hazel ~ Place in a spray bottle, spray on clean face, dab off and then moisturize.

2. 2% Hydrogen Peroxide ~ Dilute 1:1 ratio with distilled water and do as #1.